davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
A Startling reelection.

From the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Two hundred years ago III China
there was just such craze about nat
ural gas as We have in this country to:
day: Gas wells were sunk with as
much vim and vigOr as the celestials
were capable 6f. but owing to a gas ex:
plosion that killed several millions of
people and tore up and destroyed d
Large district Of country, leaving q
large inland sea, known on the maps
as Lake Foo Chang, the boring ofany
more gas wells was then and there pro.
hibited by law. Itseems; according to
the Chinese history, that many large
and heavy pressure gas wells were
struck, and in some districts wells
were sunk quite near to each other.
Gas was lighted as soon as struck, as
is done in this country. 1t is stated
that one we'll with its unusual pres
sure, by induction or back draught,
pulled down into the earth the burn
ing gas OF a smaller well, resulting in q
dreadful explosion of a large district,
destroying the inhabitants thereof.
Lake Foo Chang rests on this district.
The same catastrophy is imminent
in this country unless the laws restrict
further developments in boring so
many wells. Should u similar explo.
sion occur there will be such an up
heaval as will dwarf the most terrible
earthquakes ever known. The coun-
try along the gas belt from Toledo
through Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky,
will be ripped upto the depth of 200
to l, 500 Feet and Topped over like a
pancake, leaving q chasm through
which the waters of Lake Erie will
come bowling down, filling the Ohio
and Mississippi Valleys, and blotting
them out forever.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

Thirty-five states have in force usu-
~ laws, in which the average rate is
5 % per cent. In twenty stats the
conventional rate is 10 per cent. In
twenty.one states 8 per cent. is the
maximum, beyond which no one can
legally 60; in ten states 6 per cent. is
the maximum. In New York, if over 6
per cent, the whole contract is null
and void. aud usurys is made a crime.
From the. Sioundation Of the govern
nent states have prescribed the rates
ofinterest. z =. ! f*'i' : !
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
An Original Version:

There lived near Alexandria, in
Virginia, All old colored man
and woman, whom their &C.
quaintances called Daddy and Man,
my Williams. He had had education
al advantages. and could read in a
fashion peculiarly his own; but his
wife, although lacking as regards cru
dition, possessed great force of char
acter, which she often displayed in a
manner that was very irritating to
her husband. Wien she became par
ticularly fractions, Daddy would take
the Bible, and open to that chapter
in Revelation beginning, "And there
appeared great wonder in heaven, a
woman clothed with the sun, and the
moon under her feet" etc.
With impressive solemnity he would
read as follows: can dere 'peared a
great wonder in heben, a woman'
Slowly closing the book, he would gaze
sternly at his now subdued wife, for
the passage never failed to produce
tho desired effect.-Edltor's Drawer,
Harper's Magazine.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

Tbe international yacht race at this
season across the Atlantic promises
to be the most exciting. Of this kind
fkhdst l.atjhes evE, taken place. Tho
my AmssiSan yaeA !, ss..vo luntsar, !" is
saa toh mns fastee than thsIP uri.
tan or sMqaytloNes. sand it is conceded
that the English yacht Thistle, is a
very much faster sailer than any OF
the English yachts that. thus far have
been sent across the Atlantic. A good
deal Of national pride enters into a
contest s ofthis character. American
yachtsn,en have held "the cup" for
many years, and the whole country
will regret TO hear of its transfer to
the British. On the other hand, the
old time Mistress Of the Seas is
equally interested in snatching it from
the Yankee sailors. The result. of the
race is a fruitful subject of conjecture.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
The British Royal Plate.

The royal plate. which is probably
the finest in the world, was used at
the state banquets of the Jubilee. 1t
Is usually kept in two strong rooms
at Windsor Castle, and is valued at
f2, 100000. The gold service, which
was purchased by George w., from
Rundell & Bridge, dimes one hundred
and thirty persons, and the silver
wine-cooler. which he bought about
the same time, holds two men, who
could sit In it comfortably. 1t is in
closed with plate glass, and the splen-
did chasing occupied two years. There
are some quaint old pieces in the royal
collection, which belonged to Queen
Elizabeth, having been taken from the
Spanish Armada, and others were
brought from India, Burmah, and
China, and there is one cup which be-
longed to Charles XII. of Sweden.
The vases, cups .candelabra, and fancy
pieces are usually displayed on the
huge side-boards at each end of the
table of st. Georges Hall when a
state banquet takes place. There is
a peacock of precious stones valued
at 100000. The body and tail are
composed ofsolidgold, profusely stud
ded with pearls, diamonds, rubies,
and emerald The tigers head, known
as Tippoo's footstool, Is formed of sill.
Yer gilt, with eyes of rock-crystal and
a tongue OF solid gold. These two trc-
phies of oriental extravaganza were
taken at Seringapatam, and presented
subsequently to George III. There are
all immense number of gold shields,
some Of which are richly ornamented.
One ofthese was formed of snuff boxes,
under the direction of George w., and
is valued at 100000. There are thlr-
ty dozen Of plates, which were bought
by that sovereign at a cost offll, 900.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

In a single-year. Germany shipped
to the coast OF Africa 7.136,236 gal.
ions of rum, and England sent 6O2,-
1928, gallons, while the United States
provided the heather with 921,412
gallons OF whisky. Strong, drink
seems to he a potent civilizer in some
countries, but in others the result is
different.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

Writing to a Chicago friend, William
II. Crane, the famous comedian, tells
a number of stories about his preco-
cious little five-year.old son, Stuart
Robson Crane. The other evening he
was telling his mother how brave he
was. mamma" said he. II aim afraid
OF re dark-never was afraid but just
cnce." "When was that, deary?"
asked his mother. LAS summer,
when I was at Aunt Lizzie's, said he.
II went down to 70 closet in 70 kitch-
en- all aions by myself in 70 dark, an
sh little boy" said his mother, '"'for
there is nothing in the dark that can
aurt you" 'Oh, l wasn't 'fraid Of
.at," cried he, II was 'fraid Eat
wouldn't find any cake zare!"-Chica-
70 News.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

United States Circuit Judge La
:ombe, OF New York, has decided that
n the matter ordering the return of
immigrants likely to become public
charge, the order OF the emigration
commissioners in absolute, and the
curt has no Jurisdiction. This up.
ct decision of an opposite charac-
Ger by another New York Judge, and
s. mere satisfactory.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
fitch Mems Dishonesty.

From the Boston Daily Advertiser
It is not true that entertainments,
larcenies, defalcations, and financial
"irregularities' are the work of OBJ
scure subordination. On the contrary,
it is the wealthy or fairly we'll off cash
iers, directors, and presidents W no rob
the banks; trust funds are stolen by
men whose position in society has put
them far above suspicion of such weak
ness, and railroad and other great
corporations are despoiled by million
aires.
A poor man has very little tempta-
ton to steal ten millions or one mill
lion. His needs and desires are so linn
tied that such q sum has few attrac-
tons for him. He knows the possess
sion of it would be burden, and
would probably lead to his detection
and punishment. His reputation for
honesty and trustworthiness is his
capital, and he would risk everything
by one false step. Say his principles
are no better nor his conscience more
active than those of other men who
are tempted and do fall, yet the con-
siderations herein named would hold
him back from crime into which they
madly rush.
The wealthy, fast living, speculative
tinancier who goes wrong "borrows"
the funds intrusted to his care and uses
them in kite flying experiments. Wealth
begets the desire for more, and he never
gets enough. If he wins he returns the
loan as q means of Guieting his con-
science, and little latter finds he has
sufficient nerve to make larger draw
upon his neighbors' accounts. In his
case the possession and use of money
creates no suspicion against him. He
therefore regards his chances of detec.
ton as small and decides to take
them. Furthermore, he relies on his
wide acquaintance and influence to
give him, if the worst should happen, a
safe de.iverance in thecourts or across
the Canadian border
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

The age has developed a great vari.
ETY. OF contests, the latest beingin eat.
ing and drinking. and these are becom-
ing frequent. Two. champion clam
eaters had 9 contest the other day in
Brooklyn, n. Y, which turned out to
be one shed STAIR. "A man named
kepler disposed of 100 clans in just
four minutes, while his opponent kept
on uneh Be bad put over q thousand
into hb stomach,snd then he called
Tor assprus chekln - us. hezhad to
be relieved alta wss Ids BY al emetic.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
Where General Grant Died.

has written chief Fairchild
q letter rendering, free of expense, through
him, to the surviving Union soldiers OF the
late war perpetuity, the cottage on Mount
McGregor, N. Y, in which Gen.
Grant died. There is no stipulation as
to how it shall be used, but it is
specified that the trustees shall consist OF
the commander-in-chiefo OF the Grand Army,
the president OF Mount McGregor railway,
and such other persons as Mr.. Drexel or
his successors as president OF tho Drexel &
Morgan Banking company may designate.
Gen. Fairchild has laid the proposition
before the executive committee of the
national council administration of the
Grand Army, which is now in correspond
ence with Mr.. Drexel with relation to it.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
Family Mourning.

For one 1 believe that the custom OF
wearing mourning apparel in the way
OF a badge OF sorrow and affection is
going out of use, and that the time
will come,-and possibly may not be
far distant,-when such practice
will have become obsolete. Various
reasons may be offered why Chris.
tain people should discountenance
such a custom altogether. It is said
that in European countries black Is
employed generally because it repre-
sents darkness, unto which death is
like, as it is a privation of life. In
China, on the contrary, white is used,
because the people hope and believe
their dead have gone to heaven; the
place of all purity. In Egypt yellow is
worn, because it represents the decay
ing Of flowers and trees,
which become yellow as they
decay. In Ethiopia brown is
used, since it denotes the color of the
earth f,om whence we came and to
which We return. In certain parts of
Turkey blue is worn, because this
color represents the sky, where the
people trust their dead have gone; but
in other portions of the empire blue
and violet are adopted, since these
colors, being q blending of black and
blue, represent from one point of
view, sorrow; from the other, hope.
Now, in reality, to wear mourning sig
mites nothing and answers no valua-
h IL &c ~
index to the state of the mind. To
see an entire family clothed in black
person would naturally conclude that
the family are true mourners, needing
consolation in their SORROW. Yet
what is the fact in q large majority of
instances? Pope speaks of those who
bear about the mockery of woe:
ITO midnight dances and the public show
And alas! mourning apparel is but too
often "the mockery of woe. 1.-THE great
expense incurred in providing mourn
ing garments is also consideration
of weight which should not be over
looked. The clothing of an entire
family, and especially where the fam.
lily is large, in mourning garments is
no trifling matter. OF course the
wealthy and such as can afford the
expense make no account of it, but
to those who are poor or in moderate
circumstances it is a serious tax, and
in fact proves nothing short OF a
most grievous pecuniary burden. And
in many cases the custom of wearing
mourning amounts to q prod
igal waste of money. Many
families are abundantly supplied
with clothing, the wardrobe is filled
with superfluous garments, and speed
lily. perhaps, the mourning apparel is
laid aside so that it is the same as
money thrown away. An estimate
made OF the amount ofmoney expend-
ed in purchasing such apparel would
astonish, I fancy. almost any commu-
nifty in the land, besides, what is there
in the good moral influence arising
from such custom to balance this
vast expenditure?-George Newell
Lovejoy, in Good Housekeeping. ..5
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

1t is a fact OF considerable sienifi-
:ance that the receipts from the inter.
nal revenue tax on distilled spirits for
the last fiscal year shows a decrease
ii nearly $4,000, from the amount
or the year preceding. The statistics
show that the falling off has occurred
chiefly in those States where stringent
restrictions upon heliquor traffic, in
Guiding local option, have beeu adopt
ed.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

Professor Elisha d.ay'snex sdi.covv
cry is calledanto-ts Iegraphy, and it is,
claimed that it will be possible with
its use to write upon a sheet of paper
and have an photographic fac-simile of
the writing reproduced by telegraph
800 miles away. and probably smpch
zreater distance. N3s&s A0
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

Frost in a cistern.-W. J.: When q
cement cistern is permitted to feeeze,
the cement is saturated with water
above the water level is cracked and
broken; consequently the cistern will
leak. Frost must be completely ex'
cluded from a cistern or it will not
stand. The cistern may be protected
by covering of earth or by an air
space under such a covering. A tenn
porary covering of evergreen boughe.
corn stalks. or straw, with boards laid
double over it, will be found very
useful to keep out frost:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

Governor Foraker and Thomas E.
Powell, who are pitted against each
other in the Ohio gubernatoria!
campaign, are oldfriends. They went
to Wesleyan college at the same time.
Foraker WAS member of the Phi,
Kappa Psi fraternity, while Powell
was Sigma Chi. They we're frequently
pitted against each other in debate in
the literary society to which: they
both belonged.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
Stanford Comfortably Rich.

In the Pacific investigation at San Fran.
~ hs Is se OF the stock
'struction;. Senator Stanford said that
when the line reached Ogden they would
have been glad to have disposed Of it at
10 cents on the dollar. After the consoli.
dationf Of the roads now comprising the
Central Pacific lines his share was some
thing like thirteen dollars.
: ,'"What'is your present interest In the
Central Pacifc?" was asked.
Il believe at present own 80, 900 shares
at 800 q share"
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

the Snowman. brought out the BON,
bardment Of the city Of Antwerp,
which, in the most soldier-like man.
ner was performed by automata. All
the artillery was served and discharg.
ed with that regularity which is 81.
ways attributed to clockwork. A
year or two later the same artist pro-
duced 1.-THE Grand Assault of BERGEN
Of Zoom." with great success. He
named his company Comediens Prac.
ticiens. .4s5s4-.-..... .ms
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
nights Of settlers o, Territorial Sseh.,l Lands.

nights sfssttlers On Territorial ssehssl Lands.
atntthe case Of Thomas F. Watson OF
Washington Territory. in which is involv-
ed tho Question OF the rights OF settlers up
on school lands in the territories, Assist
ant Secretary Muldrow has decided I'm.
der the acts granting to the territories
tands'ior school purposes, where the land
at the date OF survey IL occupied by an
actual settler, his right to the lands is SUI
pertor to tho right OF tho territory. Where
school lands at the date of survey are oc.
cupied by IN actual settler, the territory
is entitled to select equivalent lands in the
lien thereof as indemnity. Having made
such selection, the indemnity land so
selected is held in reservation in lien of
the school selection upon which such Sc.
lection was made, and the school section,
by the act Of such Selection, is released
from reservation. and therefore an entry
OF school selection, made while the Sc
lection OF equivalent land remained In.
tact, was valid.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

The total amount olipsisiblswhs
On hand on both coasts- on the, LIST
inst, i found BY Bradstreet,ss toS,be
100000 bushels. or 5000, 900 less
than was on hand Julyf1. 1855. The
visible supply amounts to enough to
make a'totalsof 100000 bushels
in the country. Il 7 ~ f
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11
NOHTHINGTON,
"A ,,,,yss q. FssgYy - 81 sv5' sfE-IETE -
Tne decrease IN the National debs
in July was only about $5, 600, GOO,
'owineto large expenditures ,,nder con-
,ressionaf proppriatiorns. XII

: Nhe crops OF the State sof Missouri
orsls87, oafar, an they hawe been
harvested, are mueh !largerthan those
Of average years, while the prospects
z'or such ashsve.net yet mstured are
highly encouraging.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

The city OF Peshawur, in the northwest
ern .part Of India, in the Punjab, is inflicted
with cholera@toi the worst type. Three
hundred deaths from tho disease occurred
Sduring the month ofiJuly.
Alfred Sawyexs vas hanged at Lancaster,
England, for the murder Of his sweetheart
Ferry has finally chosen M. M.sProust
and Roynal 40 seconds in his coming duel
with Cen Boulanger. They meet at NJ,
proust's residence to decide upon condi.
lions 81 - GO - ~. ~
July reduction il I'll public debt i somo
thing overfour and three-quarters millions
No writ Of extradition haS been asked
in NcGarigie's case. =''~s..-,..3
The decrease in the public debt last
month was 81, 844, 894.
AT q meeting of the Parnellites it was de.
cided to adopt a passive policy after the
passage OF the land bill. in order to allow
q speedy close OF the session. :
Mrs. Hubbard, wife OF the United States
minister to Japan, died at Toxic after
many months illness.
The British ship Star OF Scotia, CAPTAIN
Cotter, from San Francisco April 27, for
Queenstown. has been wrecked off tho
Falkland islands. The first officer and
sever Of the crew were drowned.
AEatkoff, editos Of, tho Moscow Gazette
is dead.s ~ =" - - 'fsE
Justice Gray, of the federal supre mo
court, is aboutsto build a house in Wash.
inston. and it is thought he intends to
marry. - .ti5 /ftM I
The following postm asters were COM
missioned: Dakato-Hackett, M. A.
Smith. 1owa-Ollie w. H. Jeffreys.
"A son Of. ex-Attorney General Wayne
Nc eagh7 is TO marry ardaughter of Gen.
Hammond, who now lives in Minnesota
and who was in the volunteer army in the
war. '%-%'% s7f"5. -.
Capt. Gilbert Knapp, the founder Of the
city OF Racine, Wis., and the first white
man who established settlement in that
part OF the state, died at Racine recently
OF old age and general debility.
The weather in Washington continues
warm and oppressive, and many persons
engaged in. outdoor work have succumbed
to the heat within the past few days., The
mortality has also been 81. t among
horses, especially those employed by tho
street car lines. The heat was 80 great
that it was found necessary to close the
war and navy departments an hour car.
lier than usual. y Es~.1-;st -
Secretary Lamar determines to execute
tho lawsJngainst the illegal fencing in Of
public sknds.s IL has been tho experience
OF the government in removing fences that
the cattlemen permit tho government
troops to do the labor, prefsrring to lose
the fences to incur the cost OF taking them
down and endsavoring to preserve. the
wire.s - ~. iE.a3E.s-
It y estimated that the reduction of tho
public debt during July will be IS, OOO, 900.
The friends OF the president are urging
him TO take some recreation before tho
work incident to Tho next session begins.
Gen.sAlbert Pike. poet, soldier and grand
commando Of the southern Jurisdiction Of
Free Masonss lives, at the age OF seventy.
seven, IN retirement at Washington.
Charles H. Reed, the Chicago lawyer who
attained notoriety ~ counsel OF duiteau,
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-11

0AOA, 40 OAAO CdOAcS VI pIOAcSSOC6 Ol
legerdemain generally are, with vari-
GUS little boxes and cabinets, from
which he took the articles he used
during the exhibition. He produced
the goblets and showed tine balls un-
der them in the most approved style.
Then he conjured one or two into q
place a moment before vacant. Pres
emily they disappeared again and were
continually separated and brought
together again. Atevery exclamation
of the spectators the little conjurer
turned his head from side to side as il
looking round the house, cast his eyes
modestly down, bowed and resumed
his sleight of hand. He would not on
~ lift the goblets and place them
over the balls, but would leave them
there a moment and raise his hands
to show the audience that he had
nothing concealed in his hands or
sleeves. He would then seize the COB.
let's again and go on. His trick being
over, he put the cups away and shut
the cabinet. Then he would knock on
the table and an egg would come up.
He touched the egg and it opened
lengthway, and a small bird g rung
out, uttering a few notes, clapped its
wings-which were composed of real
humming birds feathers-and dropped
back into the egg again. The it'll
conjurer nodded, smiled, rolled his
eyes and bowed as before, and then
sat down, to intimate that the per-
formance was over. The height OF the
figure was about three inches, his table
and everything he used being in prop
er proportion. He stood on a pedes-
tai, apparently of marble. but which,
in reality. was tin painted white, and
within it were all the works and
wheels constituting the heart of the
mystery.
One Of the memoirs of the French
academy Of sciences describes, in 1929.
q set Of mechanical puppets which
were at that time performing apanto-
mime in five acts, In l746 Boinfail,